Spark-retarding motor starter



May 4,1926. Y S 1,583,498

' R. O. SIMMS ET AL SPARK RETARDING MOTOR STARTER Filed March 8 1924 ATTORNEYS Patented May 4, 1926.

UNITED STATES ROGER SIMMS AND HUGH B.

MATTOX, or LEEsBUne, FLORIDA,

SPARK-RETARDING MOTOR STARTER.

Application filed March 8, 1924. Serial No. 697,969.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, ROGER O. SIMMs and HUGH B. MA'rrox, citizens of the United States, and residents of Leesburg, in the county of Lake and State of Florida, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Spark-Retarding Motor Starters, of which the following isa specification. "-Our presentinvention relates generally to.motor starting connections for Fordai1tomobiles, and more particularly to an arrangement which will not only do away with the disadvantages of a foot pressure starter button but will also avoid the dangers always existing at the present time in starting the motors with a spark advanced. It is a well known fact that carelessness on the part of drivers in starting the motors without retarding the spark is not only hard on the starter gears and springs which are frequently broken by a kick-back under such circumstances, but often results with a blowing off of mufflers and is generally hard on the motor as well as the starting system. Our invention seeks to avoid these disadvantages by making it necessary for the operator. to'retard the spark before the starting motor can be actuated.

According to our invention we provide which are rendered operative by movement of the spark control lever to the fully retarded position, the starter switch being so placedand actuated that it cannot be reached by the foot as is now the case.

In the accompanying drawlng which 1llus trates our present invention and forms a part of this specification,

Figure 1 is a side view, broken away and partly in section, illustrating the practical application of our invention,

Figure 2 is an enlarged detail perspective view showing the spark control lever and rod and the connections proposed by our 1nvention and located adjacent thereto. and

v Figure 3 is a sectional perspective view illustrating the connections proposed our invention adjacent to the starting sw tch.

Referring now to these figures our invention proposes certain connections for actuating the starting switch or button of a Ford automobile, indicated at 10 in Figures 1 and 3, it being particularly noted that our 1nvention contemplates use of the starter switch or button without the usual cap extending up through the floor board 11, the

connections for actuating the starter switchstarter switch being shown in its usual location wholly below the floor board. Adjacent to this starter switch our invention proposes the mounting of a U-shaped bracket 12 by means of an upright threaded stem 13 which may be extended through the floor board 11 and securely locked by a nut 14. The bracket 12 has openings in its depending sides portions for the reception of a transverse pivot pin 15 adapted to form the fulcrum of a starter switch actuating lever 16 mounted in an upright position and having at its upper end an angular flattened extension 17 overlying the button 18 of the starting switch. Adjacent to its upper angular end 17 this-lever has an enlarged portion apertured for the receptionof the pivot pin 15, and at its lower end the lever is flattened and provided with a vertically elongated slot 19' receiving loosely therethrough the rear threaded end 20 of a forwardly and upwardly inclined connecting rod 21. The threaded end of this rod is adapted for-the reception of nuts 22' adjustable thereon and which in the rearward movement of the rod are adapted to engage the lower end of the lever 16 whereby to rock the same upon its fulcrum and force its upper angular end 17 downwardly into operative, engagement with the starter button 18. 9

For thepurpose of actuating the connecting rod 21, the spark control rod 23 having the usual spark control lever 24 at its upper end. is provided at a point forwardly of the dash 25 with a crank arm 26' securely clamped in connection therewith and depending therebelow. This crank is pivotally connected at its lower end with one angular end of a connecting arm 27, preferably in adjustable sections adjustment of which is locked by a jam nut 28. In its operative position the connecting arm 27 projects toward the motor block 29 and its opposite upturned angular end includes a universal jomt 30 and a threaded end 31, the latter of which is locked by nuts 32 through one end of a bell crank 33. This bell crank is fulcrumed at 34 upon one end of an. angular supporting bracket 35 whose opposite end may be securely bolted to the side water :onnection 36by virtue of one of the bolts 37 normally serving to clamp the side water connection to the motor block 29.

The opposite end of the bell crank 33 is aperturcd to receive the upturned angular forward end 38 of the connecting rod 21 beforementioned audit is obvious that with the crank 26 properly adjusted in connection with the spark control rod 23 and with the proper adjustment of the connecting arm 2 nuts of the connecting rod 21, the connections will be such that upon fully retarding the spark control lever 24, or for instance within the last fraction of an inch of its travel to fully retarded position, the starter button 18 will be depressed and the start ing switch closed. In this movement the crank 26 swings outwardly away from the motor block, pulling the connecting arm 27 with it and rocking the bell crank 33 so that the connecting rod 21 is thrust rearwardly in the direction of its length and the nuts 22 are in this way shifted against the lever 16 for the proper actuation of the latter. Immediately upon the start of the motor the spark lever is advanced and this relieves pressure upon the starting button 18.

It is a well known fact that the starting switches of Ford automobiles have their buttons 18 surmounted by caps which extend upwardly through openings in the floor boards and thus by simply removing these pedal forming capsthe parts are m.

position forthe application of our invention thereto. It is also apparent that the parts constituting our invention may be applied with ease and facility by the owners of automobiles without necessitating especial mechanical skill and that these parts are adapted to be so positioned that they do not interfere in use with any of the ordinary operations with the exception of foot actuation of the starter switch. It is furthermore obvious that the parts of our invention when installed leave the adjacent parts of the automobile just as accessible as they ordinarily are.

It is to be understood, however, that we may make certain changes where necessary. In the case of some model Fords the floor boards are lower than in others and in the installation of the invention on the cars with the low floor boards it is necessary to as well as the rear lever engaging lower the starter switch by placing a block of metal the correct thickness between the frame of the car and the bracket of the regular starter switch.

We claim:

1. Motor controlling means for automobiles including a bracket securely mounted adjacent to the starting switch, a lever disposed in an upright position, having an upper angular end overlying the starter switch and having a fulcrum adjacent to its said upper end within said bracket, a crank adapted for connection at one end with a spark retarding member, a crank arm pivotally connected to said crank, a bell crank with one end-of which theopposite end of the crank arm is pivotally connected, a bracket upon which the bell crank is fulcrumed, and a connecting rod pivotally connected at one end to the other end of said crank and having a movable connection at its opposite end with the lower end of the switch actuating lever.

2. Motor controlling means for automobiles including a bracket securely mounted adjacent to the starting switch, a lever disposed 1n an upright position, having an upper angular end overlying the starter switch and having a fulcrum adjacent to its said upper end within said bracket, a crank adapted for connection at one end with a spark retarding member, a crank arm pivotally connected to said crank, a bell crank with one end of which the opposite end of the crank arm is pivotally QCODIIGCtQd, a bracket upon which the bell crank is fulcrumed, a connecting rod pivotally connected at one end to the opposite end of said a bell crank and having an opposite threaded end, said switch actuating lever having a slotted opening in its lower end through which the said threaded end of the connecting rod is movable, and nuts adjustable on the said threaded end of the connecting rod to engage and move the switch actuating lever.

ROGER O. SIMMS. HUGH B. MATTOX. 

